Mack Ade – Morning Report – 5-26-13

Three more minor leaguers that are standing out this season:

No one usually spends much time getting worked up over a 23^rd round (2010) draft pick, but we really need to stop and take a look at 5-11, 185-lb RHRP Hunter Carnevale. He split time as both a starter and a reliever over the four years he pitched for Pacific University and only his senior year (3.53, 74.0-IP, 66-K) produced decent stats. Stilll, the Mets signed him sent him to Kingport, where he churned out (2010) a whopping 10.41 SO9. Since then, he’s never been below 10 in that statistic and, over the four years he’s been a pro, now stands at 10.70. This year: Savannah – 0-0, 2.50, 1.11 – write his name down.

We’ve talked about this non-drafted shortstop before. Beck Wheeler notched his fourth save the other night and finished the night with stats of 14-appearances, 1.31, 0.87, 20.2-IP, 29-K. It’s funny when you look up his stats on Baseball Cube. They list only one year at UCSB as a pitcher and, even then, they show only four outings for four innings. Not the kind of stats that produce a draft pick, right. Well, he wasn’t drafted, but a Mets scout worked him out as a pitcher after catching out of those four outings and the rest is history. For now, three year pro stats: 53-appearances, 2.70, 0.96, 11.06-SO9 – write his name down.

               

Jim Fuller pitched two more scoreless innings Friday night for St. Lucie.  (12-G, 0.76, 0.89, 23.2-IP, 25-K, 10-BB). Only downside is he turns 23 in June and really needs to get going in the organization. It’s his 5^th year in the organization and he has spent part of three seasons in St. Lucie. It’s time for some cold weather for this guy.

                Old “stuff” on Fuller:

James Fuller - 1-1-10 Forecast:  Fuller has pitched his first two seasons for Brooklyn. Neither was for a full season and his combined stats for the two years are: 5-6, 2.44, 1.15, 20-games, 12-starts, 89-K, 1.0-IP. He will play 2010 as a 23 year old so it’s time to move, but there’s no room for him in the St. Lucie rotation. I still place him there in a relief role, but he may wind up in Savannah’s rotation instead.

4-15-10: - SP - A-Savannah:  I don't know if going from James to Jimmy had anything to do with it, but if he keeps pitching like this, you can call him A.J. or anything else you want to call him... first two outings:14.0-IP, 0.64, .0.57. More important, 15-K and only 2-BB.

7-26-10: - A lot of good starting pitchers have come out of Savannah over the past few years, some of which were promoted to St. Lucie at the all-star break this year. One left behind, Jimmy Fuller, is making a good case of being left behind for the wrong reason. Sunday night, Fuller went 6.0-IP, 4-H, 0-R, 6-K, 0-BB for the Gnats and improved his season

The left-handed Fuller finished his time in Savannah with an 8-3 record and a 1.93 ERA in 107.1 innings pitched. He struck out 99 batters and walked just 29. At the time of his promotion to the Florida State League on August 5th, Fuller led all active SAL pitchers in ERA and was seventh in strikeouts.

In 2010, Fuller had his finest season. He first went 8-3, 193, in 19 starts for Savannah, but he followed this with 5 more starts for St. Lucie, going 3-2, 3.38. His combined 2010 stats were: 11-5, 2.19, 131.1-IP, 124-K, and only 38-BB.

9-4-10: - 2011 Forecast:  Fuller wasn't promoted to St. Lucie at the all-star break, like many of his fellow Sand Gnat starters. As it turned out, he might have benefited the most. He won the Sally MVP and has already begun his stint in St. Lucie. I'm sure he'll return there in the spring, especially since it looks like there will be six starters fighting for the five slots in Binghamton. We try not to get excited about SPs at this level, especially ones that don't sit at 95, but Fuller has definitely impressed us in 2010.

8-18-11: - I’m working on my Keeper list and, frankly, no matter how much I like this guy, I’m going to have to drop him off the list. He simply hasn’t pitched an inning all year.

Fuller went down with TJS which cost him the entire 2011 season, but he got back on the horse last year with Savannah (3-5, 6.16) and has put up unbeatable numbers this year with St. Lucie. Career wise over five seasons: 20-16, 2.73, 1.19, 280-IP, 279-K, 84-BB.

Fuller will turn 26 next month which is still a baby for a pen dude. He’s only had 11 appearances so far this season so leave him in Lucy and send him to Binghamton next spring.


B-Mets Logan Verrett's line last night: 7.0-IP, 3-H, 1-ER, 0-BB, 92-P, 64-strikes... another excellent outing from someone that might beat Rafael Montero to Las Vegas.

Gary Seagren asked -   Good morning Mack, I'm on a mini vacation in N.C. but  you know I can't stay away from the Mets for long (actually minutes would be more appropriate) anyway are they really trying to punish Ike or what. I know we're all real tired of the Ike story line but we all feel for the guy so let’s get this over with already. The basic problem I have is more about "The plan" that I was all in on for the last 3 years and now as we are seeing more of it unfold you have ask yourself..... what gives Sandy? I loved the Wheeler and Dickey trades but when you look at everything else this "crack" FO team has done it's been pretty poor. So the plan was to just wait out the Santana and Bay contracts before being aggressive in the free agent and trade markets and if we suck getting there then we'll have top 10 draft picks (well I guess an 11 pick this year Is close enough though the rule sucks because it punishes us for the Bbuc's failure to sign their pick last year which has nothing to do with us). I would think Choo would be the obvious choice on the free agent market but we have to be sure to have a top 10 pick so as to not lose it to sign him.

O.K. Mack if it came down to signing Choo and losing a top 10 pick what would you do and what do you think the Mets would do?

                I would sign Choo, but Sandy will not. He is obsessed with his under-slotting, high school picking draft.

So as a fan we have to hope that at least ZW and d'A see playing time and are ready for 14 and then hopefully add some talent in the off season because to put together this bad a team is embarrassing.

                No one pushed 2014 more than I did, but I’m afraid we’re going to have to push that off to 2015. The pitching staff will improve with Wheeler and probably Montero, but the bats will continue to be few and far between. I do expect one FA signing, but, past than, Alderson seems convinced he can solve this from within… probably around 2020 at the rate he’s churning them out.

Last question is do you think both Plawecki and Boyd will go to Lucie together once they've hopefully helped secure a first half title for the Gnats? Have a great weekend and catch you next week, Gary Seagren

                I do, but Plawecki may be held up due to blocking. Both are being given the opportunity to play in the Sally all-star game before leaving town.

                Have a safe trip home and… remember… I live off exit 8 on I95 in South Carolina. Call me up around mile market 38 and we can have a cup of coffee together at Dunkin Donuts.